The Theme Of Original Evil In Frankenstein - 1298 Words

The creature of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein deals with issues of free will and moral corruption as he deals with his isolation in the novel. A formative work in his education is John Milton’s Paradise Lost which deals with the same themes. Paradise Lost dramatizes the Biblical original sin, or the fall of man: the story of how evil entered God’s perfect world. It is the ultimate fall from innocence, and thus perfectly encapsulates the creature’s own fall. Paradise Lost also illustrates free will, as God explains that he gives his creatures the option to serve or disobey. The story relates the original sin in the context of the fall of Lucifer. Paradise Lost opens with demons discussing how they will continue their revolt against God, and†¦show more content†¦While first he blames his misery on God he admits in a soliloquy â€Å"since against his thy will/Chose freely what it now so justly rues† (Milton Book IV: 71-2) that his own free will is to blame for his turns in life. Victor’s creation similarly admits his own moral failings. He confesses to murdering William for the last name Frankenstein, to strike back against his creator. However, the creature falls more into the role of Victor’s Adam than his Lucifer. The monster himself recalls his creation as â€Å"like Adam †¦ united by no link to any other being in existence† (Shelley 90). His fall from grace came from his universal rejection. The monster did not receive an option to take a forbidden fruit; his very creation was his own fall. He asks Victor, â€Å"Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of your’s, more horrid from its very resemblance† (Shelley 91). The creature recognizes his role as Victor’s Adam. He is originally kind and wants simple to be accepted but is judged as evil because of his appearance. He tells Victor â€Å"when I looked around I saw and heard of none like me† (Shelley 83), highlighting his isolation and loneliness. Much like Adam, he has no companionship and is wholly unlike all before him. Unlike Adam, the creature wakes up with no guidance from hisShow MoreRelatedWho is the Villain in the Frankenstein? Essay714 Words   |  3 PagesMary Shelley is the original playwright of Frankenstein and it has been adapted since then by Phillip Pullman. Mary wrote it in 1818 and it was first performed in 1988, at the Polka Childrens theatre in Wimbledon. In the play, a doctor called Victor Frankenstein created life from an experiment, a monster, and although Frankenstein had intended the monster (who wasnt to be called the monster) to be a kind, caring and loving creature, the way the villagers treated him and turned away in disgustRead MoreAnalysis of the Creation Scene from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 Film Version912 Words   |  4 PagesScene from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 Film Version One of the key themes in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ is human arrogance. Frankenstein’s curiosity leads him to play the role of God. In a way Frankenstein is responsible for the monster and has ultimately become a father figure to the monster. Frankenstein abandoning the monster leads up to it turning evil and looking for revenge. Therefore, parenting is another theme in the novel. The natureRead MoreDr. Mary Shelly s Frankentein And The 1994 Adaptation Of The Novel 1176 Words   |  5 Pagessame. The changes of how people died is one major difference that Branagh had taken away from the original novel. In the book, Victors mother dies from scarlet fever that she has gotten from Elizabeth. As quoted from the book, â€Å"She died calmly, and her countenance expressed affection even in death. I need not describe the feelings of those whose dearest ties are rent by that most irreparable evil, the void that presents itself to the soul, and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance.†Read MoreFrankendoodle And Frankenstein1079 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein is a classic science fiction novel written by Mary Shelley, through the ages, many adaptations have taken the story through various forms of popular culture. SpongeBob Squarepants, a popular children s television show often alludes to classic literature, and makes it entertaining for all ages. While this example is quite comical, it does hold classical elements associated with Frankenstein, but takes a spin on the classic science fiction novel. In this essay I will consider the similaritiesRead MoreA Comparison Of Frankendoodle And Frankenstein1199 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Frankendoodle† in Comparison to the Original text â€Å"Frankenstein† Frankenstein is a classic science fiction novel written by Mary Shelley, through the ages, many adaptations have taken the story through various forms of popular culture. SpongeBob Squarepants, a popular children s television show often alludes to classic literature, and makes it entertaining for all ages. While this example is quite comical, it does hold classical elements associated with Frankenstein, but takes a spin on the classicRead MoreFrankensteins Monster: from Misunderstood Creature to Scientific Breakthrough2710 Words   |  11 PagesThe 19th century reader of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was treated to a tale of fantastic proportions. A story of a monster that was created from parts of corpses and could be brought to life would have been an extremely scary story. They would not know if the creation of a monster in this way was really a scientific possibility. The 21st century audience however, now knows that this is not scientifically possible. The fear th at was struck in the hearts of the 19th century readerRead More Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Com Essay917 Words   |  4 Pages In Kenneth Branaghs film Mary Shelleyamp;#8217;s Frankenstein, the director, Kenneth Branagh sticks to the major themes of the original book with minute changes. There are many similarities and differences between the book and Kenneth Branaghamp;#8217;s adaptation of the book. I believe Mary Shelley wanted readers to catch the themes of child abandonment, presented in Victor abandoning his creature. She also wanted readers to have compassion and sympathy for the abandoned creature that VictorRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1337 Words   |  6 PagesAfter almost two hundred years of adaptations, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been virtually lost to pop culture references and mutations in story through film and other forms of media. All the different changed of the story has actually taken the original story of its As a result of so many different stories, all that is left is totally different version of the original creature. Shelley in her version of the book , looks at familial morality, man as God, and awareness that creator has responsibilityRead MoreShelley s Views Of The Dangers Of Knowledge1679 Words   |  7 Pagescontained in her novel Frankenstein â€Å"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes not be a serpent to sting you, as mine had been,† this fragment of Victor Frankenstein’s conversations with Robert Walton exemplifies Mary Shelley’s views of the dangers of knowledge, in her novel, â€Å"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,† where main characters Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein ruthlessly peruse knowledge. The theme of knowledge is atRead MoreEssay on Frankenstein - Societal Changes in Film2491 Words   |  10 PagesA Look at the Story of Frankenstein and the Societal Changes in Film Frankenstein’s monster, a misunderstood creation fabricated by Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s classic story, has been terrorizing readers and audiences alike for well over one hundred and fifty years. Since the story was first written in 1818, there have been numerous plays, and over one hundred films, each adaptation trying to portray its own vision of the original story. Mary Shelley came to create â€Å"the prototype